Eni and Instituto Superior Dom Bosco Expand Clean Cookstove Production in Mozambique
On 12 March 2025, Eni Natural Energies Mozambique – the subsidiary of the Italian energy group focused on the energy transition – together with the Instituto Superior Dom Bosco (ISDB) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of an improved cookstove production unit at the Salesian Vocational Training Center in Maputo Province. The event marks a concrete step forward in Eni’s Clean Cooking Programme, which seeks to replace traditional biomass stoves with cleaner, more efficient alternatives across sub‑Saharan Africa.
Background of the Clean Cooking Programme
Launched in 2023, Eni’s Clean Cooking Programme has already facilitated the distribution of more than 200 000 improved cookstoves in the provinces of Maputo, Sofala and Manica, reaching roughly one million people[1]. The initiative targets three interlinked goals:
- Increase access to clean energy for households that rely on firewood or charcoal.
- Reduce deforestation and indoor air pollution associated with biomass combustion.
- Improve health outcomes, especially for women and children who are most exposed to smoke.
According to the World Health Organization, household air pollution from solid fuels contributes to nearly 3.8 million premature deaths each year globally[2]. By shifting to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or ethanol‑based stoves, the programme aims to cut these risks while creating local economic opportunities.
Groundbreaking Ceremony Details
The ceremony was attended by senior representatives from Eni Natural Energies Mozambique, ISDB faculty, local government officials, and community leaders. Speeches highlighted the project’s alignment with Mozambique’s National Energy Strategy 2023‑2030, which prioritises clean cooking as a pillar of sustainable development.
Key figures announced during the event include:
- Current daily production capacity: ≈ 350 cookstoves.
- Target capacity after expansion: ≈ 500 cookstoves per day.
- Additional direct jobs expected: ≈ 30 positions in manufacturing, quality control and logistics.
- Indirect employment boost through the supply chain (metalwork, distribution, retail).
The expanded unit will incorporate upgraded stamping and welding equipment, enabling higher precision and lower material waste. Training modules will be integrated into ISDB’s vocational curriculum, allowing students to gain hands‑on experience in modern manufacturing techniques.
Impact on Local Workforce and Training
Prior to the expansion, the cookstove initiative employed around 120 young Mozambicans across the full value chain – from component production to final sales and after‑sales service[3]. The new facility is designed to deepen this impact by:
- Providing technical internships for ISDB students specializing in mechanical engineering and industrial technology.
- Offering certified courses on clean‑energy product design, safety standards and entrepreneurship.
- Creating a pipeline of skilled workers who can support Mozambique’s growing clean‑energy sector.
ISDB’s rector emphasized that the partnership exemplifies how industry‑academia collaboration can translate vocational training into tangible livelihoods, especially for youth in peri‑urban areas where employment opportunities remain limited.
Future Outlook and Sustainability
Eni plans to monitor the expanded unit’s performance through key performance indicators (KPIs) such as production yield, energy efficiency of the stoves distributed, and user satisfaction surveys. Data collected will feed into periodic reports shared with the Mozambican Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy and international partners.
By scaling up local production, the initiative reduces reliance on imported stoves, lowers logistics costs, and shortens delivery times to remote communities. Moreover, the use of domestically sourced raw materials supports national industrial development goals.
In line with Eni’s broader commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the cookstove expansion contributes primarily to:
- SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy.
- SDG 3 – Good Health and Well‑Being.
- SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth.
- SDG 13 – Climate Action.
As the project moves from groundbreaking to operational phase, stakeholders anticipate a measurable decline in biomass consumption within the targeted provinces and an improvement in household indoor air quality – outcomes that will be validated through independent impact assessments scheduled for 2026.
[1] Eni Natural Energies Mozambique press release, “Clean Cooking Programme reaches 200 000 stoves distributed”, March 2024.
[2] World Health Organization, “Household air pollution and health”, 2022.
[3] Instituto Superior Dom Bosco annual report, 2023‑2024, section on vocational training partnerships.
